david petraeus

Earlier this year, Paula Broadwell was known as the military biographer with unprecedented access to war hero General David Petraeus. On November 9 she was the other woman in the affair he disclosed when resigning as CIA director. Since then, the media has noted Broadwell's "toned arms" and "tight jeans," and cited unnamed sources who have called her "creepy" and a "shameless self-promoting prom queen," while playing up accounts that she allegedly cyber-stalked another Petraeus friend, socialite Jill Kelley. Broadwell has been under investigation for allegedly mishandling classified material, and speculation continues about what exactly happened, and when, between her and Petraeus. What do women who know her think of the controversy? In two sessions over the course of a week, Glamour spoke with five of Broadwell's friends. How do they reconcile the woman they describe as a caring friend, devoted mother, and national security expert with someone who could have such a lapse in judgment? read more